UK Home Office
Detention Engagement Officer - Yarl's Wood
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Detention Engagement Officer - Yarl's Wood
Location - Bedford (Yarl's Wood IRC)
Salary
£34,415 - £34,931
Plus allowance of approx. 17.76%, which equates to an additional £6,112.10 pa based on salary minimum.
A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%.
Apply before 11:55 pm on Monday 19th October 2026
Immigration Removal Services Command (IRSC) plays a key role in supporting the Home Office's immigration system by managing immigration detention and facilitating lawful returns. As part of the Detention Engagement Team at Yarl's Wood Immigration Removal Centre, you will work directly with detained individuals, providing information about their case progression, supporting their welfare and contributing to a safe, secure and professional environment while helping to maintain effective immigration controls.
Job description
As a Detention Engagement Officer, you will work directly with detained residents, helping them understand their immigration case, the processes affecting them and the steps required to progress their case towards conclusion. You will build professional and constructive relationships with residents, providing clear, accurate and timely information whilst ensuring their welfare needs are identified and appropriately addressed.
Working closely with case working teams, on-site healthcare providers, detention services staff and other partners, you will help ensure effective communication and coordination of support. You will monitor welfare concerns, raise issues when necessary and contribute to maintaining a safe, respectful and professional environment within a secure setting.
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The role requires you to communicate confidently and sensitively with individuals who may be experiencing uncertainty, frustration or distress. You will use sound judgement to assess situations, respond appropriately to challenging circumstances and ensure that information is recorded accurately and handled professionally. The environment can be demanding and fast-paced, requiring resilience, adaptability and the ability to manage competing priorities while maintaining high standards of service and professionalism.
The centre is located near Milton Ernest, to the north of Bedford. There is no public transport servicing the site however, car parking is available for staff.
You must be available to attend the centre for all scheduled shifts.
Essential Criteria
What we are looking for in our Detention Engagement Officers:
- Experience of working in a customer service environment, gained through paid or voluntary roles. While experience in the care, benefits and financial support, retail, or hospitality sectors would be beneficial, we welcome applications from candidates with customer service experience from any background.
- Ability to communicate clearly, both verbally and in writing and to build positive relationships with people from diverse backgrounds.
- A calm, professional and resilient approach when dealing with sensitive or challenging situations.
- A genuine motivation to support vulnerable people, help them understand their options, and contribute to safe and effective immigration outcomes.
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To learn more about this role and how to apply, register for one of our free, optional live events by clicking the date and time that suits you below.
- Monday 05 October 2026, 13.00-14.00
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/detention-engagement-team-roles-explained-live-qa-with-recruiters-tickets-2002225737078?aff=oddtdtcreator - Saturday 10 October 2026, 10:00-11:00
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/detention-engagement-team-roles-explained-live-qa-with-recruiters-tickets-2002226079101?aff=oddtdtcreator - Tuesday 13 October 2026, 16:00-17:00
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/detention-engagement-team-roles-explained-live-qa-with-recruiters-tickets-2002226376992?aff=oddtdtcreator
Training
You will receive full training and support to do the job. Training takes place initially in the classroom and then continues on the job with a mentor who supports you until you are fully confident in the role. Even then you are never alone; you work as part of a team where there is always someone around for advice and support.
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